Alex McLeish has challenged Aston Villa duo Stephen Warnock and Stephen Ireland to re-establish themselves as first-team regulars.
The new Villa boss admits he will offload players if he is to make any further signings before the transfer window closes.
But the Scot is looking for defender Warnock and midfielder Ireland to show the kind of form which made them both command £8million fees when signed from Blackburn and Manchester City respectively.
McLeish, whose side visit Fulham on Saturday, said: "We have to trade again before we can bring anyone else in. But there were players, don't forget, who weren't involved last season like Warnock and Ireland.
"They have trained to a very good level pre-season and it is up to these guys to show they can do it when the real deal is about to start.
"I'm not going to guarantee anyone walking into the team or tell you who is going to be playing. But these two guys are players Aston Villa spent a lot of money on in terms of transfer fees and wages. We have to try and get more out of them and the signs have been good.
"The two of them have put in a great shift in pre-season and we know what they are capable of giving. The evidence is there. They both played for their countries.
"Ireland had a marvellous season with Man City two years ago and Warnock played for England."
The Aston Villa boss splashed out £9.5million on bringing in Charles N'Zogbia to help plug the huge gap created by Stewart Downing and Ashley Young's departures which brought in around £35million in joint transfer fees from Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
However, the Scot has revealed that Villa's wage bill is still top-heavy and owner Randy Lerner would like him to shed several more players before bringing in anyone else.
And, as Villa have been linked with the likes of David Trezeguet and West Ham's former Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, McLeish said: "I've said, all along, since I joined the club, that we won't be bringing players in until we trade.
"We still have a very heavy wage bill and we've got to try and work with Randy Lerner and Aston Villa to adjust that.
"There are players at the club we respect totally but who haven't played much first-team football and we have to try and let them seek football somewhere else.
"But, at the same time, getting the wages off the bill would then allow us to look at other incomings."
One of those outgoings could be defender Carlos Cuellar, but McLeish has revealed that his potential return to Rangers has hit the buffers at the moment.
He added: "I think it's at a bit of an impasse at the moment.
"I'm not sure where Rangers are with it at all. It will probably (go to) the transfer deadline.
"I don't think we've run out of patience in terms of when Carlos goes.
"That would definitely be handy (if a deal happens) but at the moment it's not happened."